Tory MP Simon Hoare has an interesting perspective on the story that Scots are losing the distinctive rolling “R” from their accent.

“I listened with great attention Mr Deputy Speaker to the Scottish Nationalists this afternoon, ilistened with great attention because we are told in the press that they now can’t say their Rs. Well they can certainly say their Rs, but when it comes to welfare reform and economic management I’m afraid they don’t know their Rs from their elbow”

“The SNP have a longstanding position of not voting on matters that purely affect England – such as foxhunting south of the border, for example – and we stand by that. Where any issue is genuinely “English-only”, with no impact on Scotland, the case for Evel can be made.”

“The SNP has a long-standing position of not voting on matters that only affect England. The Hunting Act is one such matter that purely affects England and Wales, and so SNP MPs would not vote on this issue.”

“The Scottish National Party Westminster Group met this evening and decided to vote against the Tory Government’s attempt to relax the ban on fox hunting south of the border in Wednesday’s vote… it is right and proper that we assert the Scottish interest on fox hunting by voting with Labour against the Tories’ proposals to relax the ban – in the process, reminding an arrogant UK government of just how slender their majority is”

According to Labour whips, he was hiding in there after going through the wrong lobby, and not wanting his Aye vote to be cast.

Ken Clarke abstained too, but for a different sort of crap.

UPDATE: MacNeil speaks exclusively to Guido:

“Felt I needed a little attention from Daily Mail as they were ignoring the SNP and wanted to make new MPs feel good when experience makes an mistake but mostly was distracted by Labour and Tories pleading for SNP votes for Select Committees”

It’s not just Labour’s traditional seats in the Commons that the SNP are after, now the nationalist horde are coming for their favourite bar. The taxpayer-subsidised Sports and Social Club is popular with Labour MPs and their visiting trade union […]